Body support for railroad coach cars



June 1939- s. L. GOSSARD BODY SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD COACH CARS Filed April 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l t 3 8 "7 I I I l I I I I INVENTOR. W1. u

June 20, 1939. s. L. GOSSARD BODY SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD COACH CARS Filed April 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,163,198 BODY SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD COACH CARS Sarah L. Gossard, San Diego, Calif. Application April 12, 1937, Serial No. 136,475

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a body support for railroad coach cars.

Ordinarily a passenger of a coach car is permitted to use, during thenight time, a chair in front of his if it is vacant to rest his feet upon. But due to a gap between the chairs, a portion of the body of the passenger remains unsupported for a long period of time which results in a great strain on the back and leg muscles of a passenger, thus causing to him great discomfort and pain.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a device which will bridge the gap between the two chairs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a body support for railroad coach cars which may be easily attached to the chairs so as to convert the same into comfortable sleeping quarters.

Another object of my invention is to provide a support of the type described which may be easily attached to and detached from the chairs.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a support of the type described which will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of 25 construction, facility and convenience in use and general efiiciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claim following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the two coach car chairs and of my support as applied thereto. Fig. 2' is a modified form of an attachment. 40 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the two coach car chairs and of a modified form of my support as applied thereto.

Fig. 4 shows the method of attaching of support to a chair. 45 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a coach car chair, and of still another form of my support.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a chair and of my support, showing the latter in downward position.

Fig. 7- is a side view of a chair and of my sup- 50 port, showing the latter in horizontal position,

ready for use.

Fig. 8 shows the method of attachment of my support to a chair.

Fig. 9 shows an attachment of a leg to th support.

A railroad coachcar carries a number of chairs indicated in dotted lines at 5 and 6, each adapt? ed to accommodate two passengers. Each chair consists of a seat "I, arm-rests II, and a back 8 contacting the seat along the line 9. The back 8 is adapted to be swung from the back of the seat I to the front. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, there is a certain space between the two adjacent chairs. Generally, my device consists of a supporting element designed to fill up or bridge the space between the chairs so as to permit a passenger to rest comfortably on his seat, said supporting element and the adjacent chair.

In Fig. 1, my support is generally indicated at I2 and consists preferably of a strip of fabric or leather material, the width of which is substantially equal to that of the seat, and having a central portion covering the gap between the two seats I. Integral with the central portion are four narrow strips I4 leading therefrom to the backs 8 of the chairs 5 and 6. The strips I4 extend between the seats I and the backs 8 and terminate with metal fittings I3 which extend at right angles to the strips I4 and against the vertical oppositesides of the seats I, the purpose of which is to retain the strips I4 in place. The strips length, as shown at I6, to accommodate possible variations in the distance between the chairs and tovary the tension of the support proper.

The fitting I3 may be of various designs and shapes, a modification thereof being shown in Fig. 2 in which a T-shaped fitting has a stem I'l extending from. the strip I4 and a crossbar l8 designed to serve as an anchor to said strip. The fitting of this type is slipped between the back 8 and the seat I, the bar I8 being in a horizontal position, and then turning the said bar into a vertical position so as to abut the back 8 and the seat I, whereby the positive anchorage is assured.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have shown a modified form of my invention which consists of a soft cushion I9, the end H of which is permanently secured to the chair 5 by the narrow strips 22, the ends 23 of which-are permanently secured to the seat I. The end 24 of the cushion I9 carries a pair ofmetal hooks 26 adapted to be inserted into a pair of loops 21, made out of material, and

attached to the back wall of the seat 6. The size of thecushion I9 is such as to fill upthe gap between the two seats, so that the seats and the cushion represent a continuous surface upon which a passenger may comfortably rest. The cushion may be used as a back support during I4 are preferably made adjustable in the day time, as shown by a heavy dotted line in Fig. 3. The strips 22 being permanently secured to the seat I prevent taking away of the cushions l9 by the passengers.

In Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, I have shown another modification of my device comprising a cushion 30, having a rigid frame therein, the end 3| of which is attached to a seat 33 by hooks 34 carried by .the cushion and engaging loops 36 aflixed to the front wall of the seat. The end 31 of the cushion carries a pair of tubular legs 38 adapted to be swung alongside the cushion when the latter is not in use and hangs downward. Each leg 38 is swingable 'abouta pin 39 connecting said leg with a pair of tongues 40' between which the former is confined. A leaf spring 4| exerts a constant pressure on the end of the leg 38 so as to keep it'either'parallel to the cushion or at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 9.

The cushion :30 whennot in=use hangs downward. During the night time or whenever a pas-.

disposed adjacent the outer opposite edges of the seat, a substantially rectangular flexible bridge member disposed in the plane of the seating sur- Tace and in the space between the seats, said bridge member :having a strap extending from each corner thereof and parallel thereto each back bearing upon the adjacent straps and hooks at the outer ends of the straps engaging the opposite outer end faces of the seats.

SARAH L. GOSSARD. 

